However, she understands the extra maintenance that comes with manually defrosting your appliance. For this piece, she read through dozens of product listings, verified customer reviews and user manuals. She compared the specifications and features for each model, and watched informational videos for more insight on the actual look, feel, and functionality of the mini fridges. You can store everything from your weekly groceries to skincare products in a mini fridge. If you’re a college student, you might want to keep snacks like fruit, cheese sticks, and drinks inside, so you don’t need to trek to the dining hall every time you’re hungry. If you’re installing a mini fridge in your home or garage, you might want to use it for items that don’t comfortably fit in your full-size fridge or that are taking up much-needed room.
According to one appliance energy use chart, an ENERGY STAR Refrigerator that’s 14 cubic feet costs about $4.49 per month to run. Mini refrigerators are even smaller than that, so in theory, it should cost even less. If you wanted to crunch the numbers, Energy.gov has a good explainer and calculator to help you get a more accurate number for your particular mini refrigerator.
The drawbacks to this Black + Decker fridge are it manually defrosts and the shelving isn’t adjustable. The space in between shelves isn’t very tall, which might be an issue for storing bulkier items such as salads, containers of berries, or leftovers. However, the pick will save you money upfront and during its lifetime, which might help you overlook these few limitations. Not to mention it has a freestanding and garage-ready design that make it flexible and easy to install.
A specialty door can make your mini fridge more accessible and flexible to install and comes in one of two forms. First, the door can be reversible, meaning you can access your fridge by opening the door to the left Frigidaire fridge or right. This type of door usually requires you to switch the hinges by attaching them with screws, which already have designated holes, and is most suitable for those installing a fridge in a tight location.
This UL- and ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerator is quality built and made to last. The capacity of a mini fridge is often measured in cubic feet. If the mini fridge is dedicated to storing beverages, then it might also be measured in the number of Bordeaux-style wine bottles and cans you can fit inside. The larger the capacity of your mini fridge, the more you can store at one time, with the average hovering between 3 and 4.5 cubic feet. Some countertop models will feature just 0.5 cubic feet of space, while high-capacity models can reach 6 cubic feet and store the weekly groceries of two people. Most mini fridges don’t have a lot of freezer space, but this one is perfect for storing a couple of your favorite ice creams or freezer meals.
However, if you’re in the market for a mini fridge that expands your fresh food storage and looks stylish, then this pick is your best bet. It’s outfitted with 5.7 cubic feet of space between its two soft-close drawers, which is about 1 cubic foot more than the average mini fridge. An adjustable divider makes it easy to organize your food and drinks. And both the drawers are tall enough to hold upright bottles, making this an ideal pick for entertainers and wine lovers alike. In the refrigerator compartment, you’ll find two glass shelves and a crisper drawer. Cans can be stored in the dispenser built into the door, while smaller pockets can hold tall and small items like containers of vegetable broth or yogurt.
Make sure not to doubt exists as to whether the appliance is properly damage the cooling system during the transportation and installation. That’s because mini fridges are built using cheaper components — namely, cheaper compressors — than standard refrigerators, and they’re just not built to last as long. While it’s small, the 1.6 cubic foot model includes a chiller for making ice, and the simple wire-rack shelf is easy to pop in and out to clean. Another great feature is the reversible door, which isn’t as common as it should be. GE’s 3.1-Cubic-Foot mini fridge has a separate freezer and plenty of smartly-designated space for cans, food, and more.
They won’t work for anything else, so if you don’t drink sparkling water or fizzy drinks, this may not be the best pick for you. An interior light allows you to see what’s in your mini fridge by illuminating the shelving and bins. It’s not a total necessity but is certainly handy if you’re reaching for a snack or drink at night. An interior light can be positioned at the top of a unit near the temperature controls or at the back. It can include an LED strip or a single bulb and is most effective when items are not blocking it. In addition, it’s key to look at how the mini fridge defrosts.
Why go all the way to the campus cafeteria or dorm lobby for a cold drink when you can easily just get it out of this mini fridge in the corner of your room? Trust us, your kids will thank you and so will their new roommate. Arctic King Note that this appliance does manually defrost, meaning you need to chip away at ice buildup once it’s become 1/4 inch thick. The instructions are all laid out in the user manual, and the process will take a few hours.
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